Driving mechanism for refrigerant compressors



June 5, 1928. 1,672,835

c. F. WASSERFALLEN DRIVING MECHANISM FOR REFRIGERANT COMPRESSORS Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,672,835 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES I. WASSERFALLEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Application filed June 22, 1925. Serial No. 38,620.

The invention relates to driving mechanism for compressors in refrigerating systems,.and its object is to provide an improved drive wheel on the crank shaftv of the compressor which will serve both to rotate the shaft and to force a current of air around the condenser and compressor for cooling purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined drive-wheel and fan which is so light in construction that it reduces the load upon the motor. Another object is to provide a combined fly-wheel and fan for this purpose, which may be economically produced on a large scale.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. V

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view, part- 2 in elevation and partly in section of reigerating apparatus with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a. detail of the combined drive wheel and fan. Fig. 3 is a :6 section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig 5 is a plan ofthe outer end of one of the fan blades. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

The invention is exemplified in' a refrigcrating-apparatus of the air cooled type, in which the compressor 8, of any suitable construction, is connected to com ress refrigerant from the low side of a re igerant line and to dischar e it after compression into a condensing coi 9, which is adapted to be cooled atmospherically. The condenser is connected to the refrigerant system, as

' well understood in the art. An electric motor 10, which, together with the base of the compressor 8, is mounted on a suitable support 11, drives a oovedpulley 12 to operate the drive whei for the compressor, which is secured to the crank-shaft 14 of the 5 compressor.

This drive wheel consists of a channelled rim, which is preferably rolled from sheet metal, and comprises a base 15 and flared flanges 16 forming an annular V-shaped groove for the correspondingly shaped drive-belt 13. The wheel comprises a'hub '17 which is adapted to be suitably fixed to the crank-shaft 14, and the connection between the hub and rim consists of a sheet metal structure which serves both as spokes for the wheel and as blades for forcing air around the compressor and the condensing coil. This structure is preferably stamped from a single sheet of metal, andcomprises a continuous central portion 18 fixed by rivets 19 to a flange 20 on the hub 17, and radially extending members 21, each of which is angled relatively to the path of rotation to serve as fan blades in the rotation of the wheel. The outer ends of the members 21 are formed with integral lugs or tongues 22 and 23, which extend in opposite directions from the plane thereof, to fit against the inner periphery ofthe base 15 of the wheel rim, and these lugs are secured to the rim by rivets 24. The oppositely extending lugs or tongues make it possible to secure each sheet metal blade to the rim at two points spaced apart, to form a secure connection between the sheet metal structure and the rim. For the purpose of stiffening each of the blades centrally, it is radially corrugated as at 26.

In operation of the compressor 8 by the motor 10, the wheel driven by belt 13 will rotate the compressor shaft and will also serve as a fan for forcing the current of air around the compressor to cool it and around the coils of the condenser.

The invention exemplifies a combined fan and wheel for the compressors of refrigerating systems, so that it serves both to drive the compressor and as cooling means for the compressor and the condenser coil. The construction of the wheel set forth is one which can be produced in large quantities and at a low cost. While formed of sheet metal, it is sufliciently rigid to efliciently perform its driving and cooling functions,

while it is light in construction to reduce the load to be driven by the motor. These factors are of particular-importance in small or household refrigerating units.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted tothe details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of they appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what Iclaim as' new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. In driving mechanism for compressors, the combination of a wheel comprising a rim, a hub, and a sheet metal structure separately formed from the rim and hub having a central portion secured to the hub and radially extending transversely oblique fan blades provided with integral tongues or lugs bent laterally to fit the rim and secured thereto.

2. In driving mechanism for compressors, the combination of a wheel comprising a rim and having a base and flanges to form a channelled periphery, a hub, and a sheet metal structure separately formed from the hub and rim having an annular central portion secured to the hub and radially extending transversely oblique fan blades provided with oppositely extending integral tongues or lugs bent laterally to fit the rim-base and secured thereto. 7

3. In driving mechanism for compressors, the combination of a wheel comprising a rim and having a base and flanges to form a channelled periphery, a hub, a sheet metal structure separately formed from the hub and rim having a central portion secured to the hub and radially extending transversely oblique fan blades provided with integral tongues or lugs bent laterally to fit the rim base and secured thereto, the blades being laterally and centrally corrugated to stiffen them.

4. In driving mechanism for the compressor of a refrigerating system, a wheel comprising a hub, an annular rim having a channelled. periphery adapted to receive a drive belt, and a sheet metal member separately formed from the rim and hub, bent and shaped to form oblique transversely extendingradial blades to force a current of air transversely through the wheel to cool the refrigerating mechanism, having an annular central portion fixed to the hub and lugs at the outer ends of the blades bent to fit against and be secured to the base of the rim. i

5. In driving mechanism for the compressor of a refrigeratin system, a wheel comprising a hub, a rim aving a base and flanges forming a V-shaped channelled periphery to receive a V-shaped drive belt, and a sheet metal member shaped to form fan blades having a central circular portion for attachment to the hub and lugs at the ends of the blades for attachment to the rim.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan, this ith day of June, 1925.

- CHARLES F. WASSERFALLEN. 

